What CPT code reports repair of an intra-abdominal blood vessel?

What CPT code reports repair of an intra-abdominal blood vessel?

• A. 35121
• B. 35321
• C. 35221
• D. 35222

Answer: (C)

When coding repair of a blood vessel inside the abdomen, you focus on the location (intra-abdominal) and whether a graft is used. If the repair is performed without placing a graft (a simple direct repair), the appropriate code is the intra-abdominal vessel repair without a graft. This matches the common scenario of fixing a damaged vessel in the abdomen without adding a graft or bypass. If a graft were placed to complete the repair, you would use the corresponding code for intra-abdominal vessel repair with graft. The other options would apply to different vessels, different locations, or repairs that include grafting, so they don’t fit the described intra-abdominal, non-graft repair.

When coding repair of a blood vessel inside the abdomen, you focus on the location (intra-abdominal) and whether a graft is used. If the repair is performed without placing a graft (a simple direct repair), the appropriate code is the intra-abdominal vessel repair without a graft. This matches the common scenario of fixing a damaged vessel in the abdomen without adding a graft or bypass.

If a graft were placed to complete the repair, you would use the corresponding code for intra-abdominal vessel repair with graft. The other options would apply to different vessels, different locations, or repairs that include grafting, so they don’t fit the described intra-abdominal, non-graft repair.